@Rick, yeah old man, kicking young butts, should be imbarrasing, dont you think?

Funny, dont think those young guys will ever play at the level (Fitness wise) Federer is at his age……NEVER

Even more imbarassing would be, if Djokovic loses to Federer in this tournment (FO)……Oh whats worse? Hope Djokovic even lives to meet Federer later on in the tourny…..?? I’d have more questions on that rather then worrying about Federer….hahahaha!…..you people are funny…:)

If Djokovic doesnt make it to semis, imagine when he is 31 years old, AN ASS BEEN…….HE WILL NO WAY BE AS CLOSE AS FEDERER IS NOW……NEVER WILL BE IN THE TOP 10 EVEN…..

yes rafa gets babylot to make balls that are slow and don’t bounce to give him an edge.
even though he’s always said he likes lively balls with high bounce.
because heavy balls actually suit flat hitters. like his rivals.

During Madrid (or Rome – can’t remember) I interpreted one of Nadal’s comments in a post-match presser as suggesting that the balls this year would be closer to what is used for the clay masters events, though it could be a misinterpretation on my part, i.e., different than the balls used at last year’s FO.

Hey Rick,
I think you don’t have better job to do than writing Federer off. Who cares whatever happens to him in the French Open. He got almost everything in tennis. Win or Lose , nothing gonna change his Tennis History. Every player has his strength and weaknesses. Writing one-sided opinion all the ways are annoying and childish. Nadal and Djokovic and others will have their own turn and lose big time while they are getting old unless they retire at young age like Bjorg Borg.

Nadal is in the best form he has ever been for a long while leading into the FO……

I hope and wish every player will be fully fit before and throughout the whole tournament…..

Despite Nadal being the heavy favourite, I think there is a chance that any player within the top 10 or possibly outside can also win……not impossible…..but again, should come as no suprise to anyone, Nadal to win in routine fashion….

But I hope that whatever happens, I’d like to see also that this tournament will be one to remember for a long time, one players will find their new form of dominance and one as a base where hopefully new stars will be born….

Whatever fans we are, we’re always going to have arguments and support our favourite, thats normal no? I think in Tennis were very lucky to have such players in Rafa, Fed, Novak, Murray, Ferrer, Tsonga, Berdych……the list goes on(we’re blessed)

It would be nice if Roger manages to win Rolland Garros. But it is a tall order and I do not give him much chance there unless Nadal falls early which can ofcourse happen. Roger can beat Novak and Murray, but against Nadal on Clay he struggles and though he can surprise us, it is too much to expect that from him at this age. Therefore, my request to him is to prepare for Wimbledon where he has a realistic chance.

Lets put it this way alison; at this point in Fed’s career, realist Fed fans know that after five straight FO losses to Rafa, for Fed to have any chance at the title is unfortunately contingent on Rafa getting beaten before they have a chance to meet.

I AGREE- there are some PATHETIC posters of that variety. Just wishing rafa to fail each and every time.

WHENEVER rafa plays a final, i’ve noticed that hardly ANY nadal fans post during the match- its just the HATERS who do so. You could tell they are SQUIRMING when the match turns in rafa’s favour, LMAO!:-)

Federer has a tough draw. But as we know sometimes the draws open up. Last year wimbledon rafa had raonic third round, Del potro fourth, berdych quarters but he ended up playing mueller, delpo and fish.

Mat4 what do I think. If it is fixed its certainly not fixed to favor federer who is the beloved player there. And the French cant stand nadal so I doubt they would do him any favors.

Verdict: on paper the TOUGHEST draw (another reason to dispel the FIX idea). HOWEVER IMHO, fed NEEDS a tough draw to get going in a tourny nowadays. Pre QTR, nalby is tough BUT fed should win regardless- IF murray can beat him why not fed?

Tbird or delpo in QTRS is tough and dangerous, BUT recently fed has had their measure. And WHOEVER of the 2 he faces- SHALL most likely be tired from the R16. Fed in SF for me.

Subo23 you could also see it another way,things can go one way or another,not just the predictable way,Roger has 16 grand slams,and is the worlds greatest ever player,just a shame to me that some of his fans,dont have more faith in the guy and treat him as such.
BTW thanks Brando great post,ever the voice of reson.

Polo i have to say David Ferrer,is by far and away,about the nicest male tennis player out there,you seldom in fact i dont think i have ever heard him complain about anything,he just works hard and goes about his business, he is one of the underdogs i would absolutely love to win a GS before he retires.

Thanks. i read that becker article too- and i think he’s right. 2 week r and r pre grass season would be PRICLESS for andy IMHO.

Re fed: i think your SPOT ON there. the guys the greatest of all time, last year he was the best player at RG, he SHOULD have won set 1 in final, and has IMPROVED against rafa, YET most of his fans have LITTLE FAITH in him?

Brando yeah 2 weeks r and r then a weeks practice on grass at queens,would be pefect prep for wimby,pulling out of RG,IMO would be a blessing in disguise,unfortunatly hes still playing at the FO so its all moot,i just hope he knows what hes doing and does not risk futhur injury.

Brando, I don’t think Federer fans have little faith in him. It just that some fans have accepted the fact that he is not as good as he once was. This is a function of 2 factors: Firstly, his age. Secondly, his greatest rivals, Nadal and Djokovic, who are among the best players ever and they are also playing at their prime. Those two factors are real and both are negative factors against Federer. He can still beat them but the chance of that happening gets slimmer each day that passes by.

World No. 4 Andy Murray, who has been drawn in the same half of the draw as Nadal, will face Japan’s Tatsuma Ito in his first match. Murray could potentially play Bernard Tomic in the third round, followed by a Last 16 meeting with No. 17 seed Richard Gasquet or No. 16 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov. Sixth seed David Ferrer, who plays Lukas Lacko in the first round, or No. 10 John Isner may be last eight opponents for the Scot.

Even on Rafa’s half most of the tough players are in Murray’s section. Rafa’s draw is definitely a kind one – imagine if Murray pulls out, which is possible due to his back – especially if the lost that exo versus Gulbis.

We ALL know the FFT, the french love rafa, don’t we? I mean all those occassions they booed him in the past, questioned him regarding steriods etc- surely it was a WARPED WAY of expressing their hidden love for the man?

I’m sure it was. It ALL adds up now and makes sense. Hence they have FIXED the draw in his favour and detrimented the chances of the one they REALLY hate: Roger Federer!

Jane, ultimately if Murray pulls out I don’t know that it affects Rafa. I will probably have him playing ferrer regardless. And tomic, gasquet, dolgopolov have zero chance against Rafa. Raonic and karlovic are tougher than those guys. But he did get a sweetheart quarter with tipsy and no federer in the semi.

No worries. Lol also on Borg’s take. I AGREE re rafa’s draw- abit of a DREAM draw, BUT at the same time, he has shown that infront of most opposition on clay this year he does seem to have their measure atm.

I think federer’s is the toughest on paper, BUT IMHO in reality i see novak’s as the tougher one. Federer has the measure of nalby, delpo and berdych recently. also he NEEDS the tough draws to be match sharp.

Novaks, BAR tsonga, will be testing since BAR the federer match, IMO he hasn’t looked at his best on clay this year. The pre QTRs match shall show IF his clay game is upto the mark or not.